Education

In adherence with the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) for primary education, we have assessed the infrastructure situation and quality of education in the 96 schools in the operational area. In some of these we have identified issues related to hardware (school infrastructure, water, toilets) while in others, we have updated the software (teachers, training, mid day meal, health check up) in order to provide a basic level of comfort to our children.

The Foundation’s motto of ‘Excel through Education’ is reflected through its five schools, with a student base of over five thousand.

Computer Aided Learning Centres

We are tapering off our association with the Azim Premji Foundation and propose to strengthen the capability of the local school development and management committees to manage and maintain CALC units. We have trained teachers and provide them with a stipend to help in the dissemination of this knowledge to rural children. At Vasind, Vijayanagar and Tarapur, we have trained 16,882 children through our centres in 47 schools. School managements have informed us that the program has sustained attendance and moreover added significantly to the leadership capability in the children. Considering a favourable response in the first phase, we are now installing solar panels at the centres to increase the period of the access to the facility. We are also collaborating with agencies such as Pearson Education Services to build upon the availability of 150 computers by introducing teachers training modules.

Rural Libraries

The total number of libraries created so far is 39. We have identified formally educated girl volunteers from our operation villages to partner with us in this initiative. Over 2500 children’s books and other material have been provided so far. Performance of the ‘librarians’ is monitored on the basis of how many children are reading and understanding the material given to them. About 5432 children have access to these books and is also source of small earning for the ‘librarians’. In some villages of Vasind, we have created such libraries in government schools and have provided them with almirahs for their safety and maintenance.

Pre school centres

We are so far supporting 16 balwadis and 35 anganwadis. In our balwadis more than 2400 economically underprivileged children have benefited and 13 local women have got a chance to earn a living. At Vasind and in the municipal school we have adopted in Mumbai, we have beautified the anganwadis and provided training to the sevikas.

Adolescent health education

We have so far conducted 127 sessions on adolescence life skills for boys and girls. These sessions are aimed at adolescent children to educate them on puberty and physical growth and anatomical changes. These sessions are taken by trained professionals and feedback is sought from parents and teachers. This has shown a marked decrease in eve teasing and usage of obscene language among adolescent children. Over 6000 children have benefitted and we have now included this program in the Jindal Vidya Mandir and the Municipal school in Prabhadevi, Mumbai which we have adopted.

Education Support

We reward the first three meritorious students of 10th standard from the schools surrounding the areas in which we operate. So far, we have rewarded 181 students.

Mid-day meal

We have collaborated with two civil society institutions that support the mid-day meal programme and with their assistance reach out to 2 lakh children in 964 villages and schools. We have helped by donating land for kitchen and supporting the program through regular grants. This service has been appreciated by rural schools and reported an increase in attendance and an improvement in the health of the children.

Village Learning Centres/Remedial Education

In order to address the problem of school drop-outs and slow learners the Foundation has organised remedial education. These centres are essential in rural areas where many students are the first of their families to go to school and hence receive no parental support in their studies. These centres hold motivational activities and play the role of parents by encouraging students and assisting them in their learning. 449 students in Vijayanagar from an identified 739 drop outs have been readmitted into mainstream schools through this program. In Vasind, 616 children in government schools have been identified as slow learners and we are working with this group. So far 25 remedial centres are running.

Career Guidance Programs

JSW staff and career guidance experts visit rural schools through the Foundation and educate students on the various career options after passing standards 9-12th . The Foundation also participates in career fairs at various institutions and has helped 27425 students so far through 92 programes.